January 22,1973: It was on this date that the US Supreme Court handed down the decision on Roe v. Wade. The US bishops have designated this day (or on Monday, January 23rd, if the date falls on Sunday, as it does this year) “as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of legal guarantee of the “right of life.”

This is always a hot bed of discussion and emotions for all of us. If we could only look at the issue, as a whole we would see so much more clearly, all that is at stake. We as Christian have to protect life on all levels –that is from ‘conception to death’ and if we don’t we are guilty of promoting the ‘culture of death’ that John Paul II told us about. As Americans, we want things to be clean cut, we want easy answers, and ideas that make sense. LIFE and Living Life does not always make sense. A lot of it is Mystery and we have to place it in God’s hands to sort through it.

Many, many, many things that we all experience in life, are confusing and unfair. Yet it is only when we come together, and pray for guidance do we get glimpses of clarity, and I mean glimpses, of how it should be. So even if we are on opposite sides of this issue—let’s continue to talk to one another; so that we can understand better what it means to call ourselves a follower of Jesus Christ: A person, not perfect, a sinner, who is not giving up on this journey with our LORD.

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Taken from the Living Liturgy

At the very beginning of his public ministry, Jesus reveals his mission to call others to repent and believe in the Good News, for “the time of fulfillment is at hand.” At the same time he calls followers to cooperate with him in his mission This call is made not just to Simon, Andrew, James, and John, however, but also to us. Jesus’ pronouncement and call, his mission and our discipleship, are not time-bound. Today remains the time of fulfillment: now we are the persons called to collaborate with Jesus to complete his mission.

To our experiences: The Jewish, Roman, and Christian annual calendars all date from founding events: Jewish from the Exodus, Roman from Romulus and Remus, and Christian from Jesus. By contrast, the kingdom of God and it’s “time of fulfillment” are not tied to human configuration or chronological time; they the timeless reality of God’s saving presence.

Peace,

Fr. Peter